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Sir Keir Starmer arrived in China on Wednesday insisting that he could handle sensitive issues on the visit — including human rights — while avoiding upsetting the US, declaring he was “a British pragmatist applying common sense”.
On a four-day visit overshadowed by concerns about a Chinese spy threat, the UK prime minister’s team has taken burner phones on the trip.
Starmer insisted that there was no evidence that Downing Street had been hacked during his time as prime minister.
“No, there’s no evidence of that,” he said. “We’ve got robust schemes, security measures in place as you’d expect.”
Last week, Starmer’s government gave permission for China to build a new embassy near the City of London — despite Conservative claims it could be a “spy hub” — clearing the way for what the prime minister argues will be an important resetting of relations with Beijing.
Starmer will meet President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders on Thursday and will also visit Japan on Saturday.
Asked whether he agreed with Canada’s premier Mark Carney, who last week in Davos spoke of “middle powers” working more closely together, Starmer insisted he could have a strong relationship with both Beijing and Washington.
“I’m a pragmatist, a British pragmatist applying common sense, and therefore I’m pleased that we have a good relationship with the US on defence, security, intelligence and on trade and prosperity, but it’s very important that we maintain that good relationship,” he said.
But he added: “It doesn’t make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury in the sand when it comes to China. It’s in our interests to engage and not compromise on national security, and that’s why we have been able to set out a consistent, comprehensive approach that I’ve referred to a number of times.”
Starmer sidestepped questions about whether he would raise sensitive issues for China, including its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, saying he would provide a “readout” after his meeting with Xi.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself on the specifics until I’ve had the opportunity,” he said.
“But part of the reason for engaging with China is so that issues where we disagree can be discussed, and the issues where we agree can be progressed.”
Starmer is accompanied on the trip by a party of 60 business and cultural leaders, including the heads of some of Britain’s biggest arts organisations in a display of “soft power”.
Starmer, the first UK prime minister to visit China since Theresa May in 2018, said he had previously been to the country when he was a lawyer before entering parliament. Asked what food he favoured, as a vegetarian, he said: “I’m not a big fan of tofu.”